But Mr Spencer admits most interest surrounds whether India - along with China at the centre of the economic boom in Asia - will become a member.

"If you look at the economic significance of the members who have expressed interest in APEC, the most important by far, economically, strategically, politically, would be India," he said.

"Clearly it is India that will weigh heavily on peoples' minds about the potential for new members."

Mr Spencer believes there is unlikely to be any real movement on the matter until leaders meet in September.

"The general attitude in APEC in the past has been we're not a closed shop. We want to deal with countries outside the region and non-members," he said.

"(But) whether we decide ... we'd rather stay as we are at this stage to consolidate some of the work that we're doing, or whether let's (allow) some of those in or let's bring all of them in. That remains to be seen."